November 2024 update

Each year, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association hands out the Rhysling Awards, which are voted on by members, based on the speculative poems nominated and selected for that year’s Rhysling Anthology.
 
I’m honoured that my poem “The Day We All Died, a Little,” first published in Radon 5, received third-place honours in the Short Poem category. I always consider it a privilege to be nominated for the Anthology, let alone receiving an award. There were many excellent poems included in the 2025 Rhysling Anthology, which I would heartily recommend to lovers of speculative poetry.
 
In other highlights, I recently finished reading AJ Hackwith’s speculative novel Toto, which revisits the Wizard of Oz from the viewpoint of Dorothy’s feisty terrier. As anyone familiar with Hackwith’s Hell’s Library series might expect, Toto provides novel and interesting takes on old favourites, while adding new elements to the mix. I’ve submitted a review to a publication, and will let you know when the review gets published.
 
Recent Publications
Cartoons:
“First Day on the Job,” Little Old Lady Comedy, October 1, 2024, https://www.littleoldladycomedy.com/all-works/first-day-on-the-job
 
Fiction:
“Curiosity,” Interstellar Archives drabble anthology, Hiraeth Publishing, September, 2024.
 
Nonfiction:
“Fair Gardening and Homecraft Displays Impress,” Simcoe Advocate, October 24, 2024, Grant Haven News, https://www.granthaven.com/simcoe-advocate

Poetry:
“As for the Spoon,” Dreams & Nightmares 128, September 2024, https://dreamsandnightmaresmagazine.blogspot.com/
 
“Canoeing on a Day…,” “Canoeing on Perry Lake,” “Fallen Tree, Algonquin Park,” “Oceanside Camping in New Brunswick,” and “Springtime, Awenda Provincial Park,” published in Firelight & Footprints, Poetry From the Canoe and Campsite, Paddler Press, September 2024, https://paddlerpress.ca/product/firelight-footprints-poetry-from-the-canoe-and-campsite/
 
“Fantastic Yoga Sessions,” “Isn't Technology Wonderful,” and “A Touch of Home,” Eccentric Orbits 5, Dimensionfold Publishing, October 2024, https://dimensionfold.com/catalog/poetry-books/eccentric-orbits/
 
“[no pleading or parental scolding],” runner-up, Saturday Evening Post, July/August 2024 Limerick Laughs contest, posted October 28, 2024, https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2024/10/july-august-2024-limerick-laughs-winner-and-runners-up/
 
“Time’s a Lousy Tipper,” Star*Line 47.4, Fall 2024, October 2024.
 
“Robin’s Rest,” Eye to the Telescope 54, Outlaws, edited by Melissa Ridley Elmes, October, 2024, https://eyetothetelescope.com/

Reviews:
A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer, by Maxie Dara, The Seaboard Review, October 4, 2024, https://theseaboardreview.substack.com/p/a-grim-reapers-guide-to-catching-a-killer
 
Necessary Poisons, by Andrea Blythe. Edited by Holly Walrath, Star*Line 47.4, Fall 2024, October 2024.
 
“New Book Makes Hope Swinimer’s Story Available to Young Readers,” The Seaboard Review, October 27, 2024, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/new-book-makes-hope-swinimers-story
 
“Two Nature-Related Books Worth Checking Out,” Lotus Newsletter, Norfolk Field Naturalists, October 2024.
 
The Wedding, by Gurjinder Basran, posted on The Miramichi Reader site, October 1, 2024, https://miramichireader.ca/2024/10/the-wedding-by-gurjinder-basran/
 
Wheeling, Yet Not Free, by Alan Katerinsky, Star*Line 47.4, Fall 2024, October 2024.
 
What I’m Working On
I’ve been continuing a focus on nonfiction pieces through the month of October, and that will likely carry over into November.
 
Coming Soon
I have two stories accepted for the November issues of Havok, “Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Wolf” (scheduled to go live November 11) and “The Memory of Flowers” (scheduled for November 22). While Havok subscribers have access to all the stories, stories are available for viewing by the general public on the day of publication, at https://gohavok.com/.
 
 

October 2024 Update: Going To the Dogs

A flash fiction story of mine titled “To Every Dog His Day” recently appeared in To The Dogs: 31 Very Short Stories About Man's Best Friend from Altitude Press (cover is at left), hence the title of this month’s blog post. As a fellow writer noted, I’ve had some success with dog- and cat-themed writing, which seems to come naturally. 

I say, if it works, do it, and I’m grateful for the existence of themed anthologies and magazine issues like To the Dogs to send my work to.

Recent Publications

Articles:
“Addiction, Family, and Political Intrigue,” An Interview with Susan Forest, Author of the Addicted to Heaven Series, published in Interstellar Flight Magazine, September 16, 2024, https://magazine.interstellarflightpress.com/addiction-family-and-political-intrigue-e1108b0a5ac0

“Biologist shines light on Norfolk’s ‘secretive’ wildlife,” Simcoe Advocate, Grant Haven News, September 26, 2024. https://www.granthaven.com/simcoe-advocate (see downloadable version of newspaper).

“Reception kicks off Norfolk Studio Tour exhibition,” Simcoe Advocate, Grant Haven News, September 26, 2024. https://www.granthaven.com/simcoe-advocate (see downloadable version of newspaper).

Poetry:
“We’re Back,” Polar Starlight, Issue 16, August/September 2024, published September 2, 2024, https://polarborealis.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/POLAR-STARLIGHT-16-August-September-2024.pdf
 
Reviews:
Game On: How Sports Media Grew Up, Sold Out, and Got Personal With Billions of Fans, by David Bockino, posted on the Sports Literature Association book review site, August 14, 2024, https://sportliteratureassociation.wordpress.com/2024/08/14/game-on-how-sports-media-grew-up-sold-out-and-got-personal-with-billions-of-fans-by-david-bockino/
 
Living With Dementia: The Collected Columns of Darce Fardy, posted on The Seaboard Review web site, September 23, 2024, https://theseaboardreview.substack.com/p/living-with-dementia-darce-fardy
 
Short Stories:
“Fallback,” published in Yabblins: 2, Gypsum Sound Tales, September 24, 2024.
 
“To Every Dog His Day,” To The Dogs: 31 Very Short Stories About Man's Best Friend, Altitude Press, published September 27, 2024.

What I’m Working On
Nonfiction has been my focus for the most part during the past month, though I am working on some other pieces as time permits.
 
Coming Soon
I recently read Maxie Dara’s fantasy/cozy mystery A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer. The “Grim Reaper” of the title is a woman named Kathy Valence, one of many soul collectors who work for a corporation known as S. C. Y. T. H. E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences). Dara’s book was original, suspenseful, and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, a great read for fans of fantasy/mystery stories. I’ll post a link to the review once it’s been published.
 

I have a story titled “Wheels of Progress” in Microcosm Publishing’s This Is Your Bike on Plants: Fantastical Feminist Stories of Bicycling, Gardens, and Growth, coming soon. Kickstarter link is: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/microcosmpublishing/this-is-your-bike-on-plants-feminist-sci-fi-rooted-in-hope